My origin story: Becoming a RVA real estate agent
Every story has a beginning, every career has a start. Becoming a realtor was a simple choice for me, but not always an easy one. Starting your own business is exhilarating because you make all the decisions and are in charge of what takes priority. On the flip side, your choices directly reflect on your income and you only have yourself to blame if things don't go according to plan.
There comes a time in your life when you have to decide how you want to get to where you want to be. I had several jobs before choosing to become a real estate agent. These jobs provided a wealth of experience in sales, helping others, and building business skills. While I’m grateful for the experiences, none of these jobs felt like a career. I became tired of outlasting all my coworkers and never seeing the rewards for loyalty to a company.
My work schedule wasn't the best, My wife and I became accustomed to eating dinners alone and not knowing when my next day off would be. But we continued to work hard for several years, paying off loans, and building a modest savings account. Allowing us some flexibility in our next steps.
Making the jump
I am a simple guy and was mostly content with my status in life until I found out my wife was expecting our first baby. EVERYTHING changed. I instantly wanted more to provide a great life for our little one. I wanted to have a better work-life balance and to be the best dad I could be.
Becoming a real estate agent was something I had been interested in doing for several years, but I had resisted the urge due to loving the reliability of a steady paycheck. We spent some time praying about our options and if we should pursue a career in real estate. We felt at peace about making the jump to a commission-only career and I got my license right away.
Building a career
Real estate has by far been my favorite job and I’m so thankful to be making this my career. Helping others with such big financial and life-altering decisions is the best feeling and a huge responsibility. The importance of this job makes it worth it and I am so hooked. I love that I am able to share my knowledge of the market and help others make the most of their hard-earned money.
As I reflect back on the past 5 years in real estate I am proud of the foundation that has been built and the experience I have gained. I am excited for the future and the growth that is happening. And I would love to continue serving the Richmond community by helping families buy a home, sell a house, or invest in rentals.
